What Does an Arts Education Coordinator Do?

Arts education coordinators develop and oversee educational programs in art institutions such as art galleries, art museums, or experimental art centers. These programs may support exhibitions or be part of community outreach and grant-funded programs. Arts education coordinators are also sometimes called museum educators.

Arts Education Coordinator Duties & Responsibilities

The job generally requires the ability to perform the following duties:

• Research and develop educational programs for an art institution, including grant-funded programs
• Support exhibitions and events, as well as educational outreach and community programs for visitors of all age groups
• Train and mentor educational program volunteers
• Coordinate lighting, repairs, cleaning, and set-up, volunteers and staff for education events
• Manage visitor flow, and safety rules and policies, and makes sure the necessary supplies are stocked for education programming
• Develop and maintain the calendar for events and programs
• Analyze and collect data in order to update databases, document statistics, attendance, and budgets

An arts education coordinator helps make art accessible to visitors and helps to make visitors feel welcome when exposed to new art and ideas for the first time.

The administrative arts education coordinator focuses on specific areas pertaining to the operation of various programs and includes promoting activities and events, scheduling, and maintaining the various gallery spaces.

Arts Education Coordinator Salary

An arts education coordinator's salary can vary depending on location, experience, and employer.

• Median Annual Salary: $35,390
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $49,000
• Bottom 10% Annual Salary: $27,000

Source: PayScale, 2019

Education, Training, & Certification

Qualifications for getting hired as an arts education coordinator vary depending on the type of employer you work for. Positions in top museums can be competitive, and candidates with more education and experience may be given preference.

• Education: To be hired as an arts education coordinator, a bachelor’s degree is typically required, along with coursework in art, communications, education, and marketing.
• Experience: Candidates may have to work part-time as an intern or as a volunteer at an art institution to gain marketable experience.

Arts Education Coordinator Skills & Competencies

To be successful in this role, you’ll generally need the following skills: 

• Interpersonal skills: Having a friendly and accepting attitude to visitors is extremely important, as guiding and introducing visitors to interactive artworks and providing them with a positive experience is key to this job.
• Organizational skills: Arts education coordinators must be able to multitask and coordinate logistics for several events at a time.
• Communication skills: Writing and speaking about art for educational events and promoting those events is an important part of the job.

Job Outlook

Many jobs for arts education coordinators are at museums. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), overall employment of museum staff is projected to grow 14 percent through 2026, which is faster than the 7-percent average for all occupations. The BLS does not post specific statistics for arts education coordinator jobs.

Work Environment

Art education coordinators generally work in art institutions such as art galleries, art museums, or experimental art centers. The job involves office work and actively running events at the institution, which can include being on your feet for long periods of time.

Work Schedule

Arts education coordinators can work part or full time, and their schedule usually follows that of the institution they work for. Some evening and weekend work may be required.

Comparing Similar Jobs

People who are interested in becoming an arts education coordinator can also consider some related careers, listed here along with their median salaries: 

• Museum curator: $49,385
• Museum technician: $41,316
• Art director: $64,349

Source: PayScale, 2019